The Kansas City Chiefs played their hearts out in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers and came away from the hard-fought divisional matchup with a win to show for their efforts.
Patrick Mahomes looked like he was back in MVP form, passing for more than 400 yards, 179 of which were brought in by All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. Rashee Rice, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Isiah Pacheco also got involved in the passing game, hauling in touchdowns to keep Kansas City in the driver’s seat.
Defensively, the Chiefs started slow but gradually worked their way toward pitching a second-half shutout that limited the Chargers to just 17 points at the game’s final whistle.
Kansas City’s performance was commendable on both sides of the ball, and won’t soon be forgotten by fans who witnessed their utter domination of Justin Herbert and Los Angeles’ stacked defense.
Check out which players rose to the top in the Chiefs’ Week 7 win over the Chargers:
DL Charles Omenihu
Omenihu was a constant pest for Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offensive line and made a huge impact for Kansas City in his first regular-season appearance. If he can keep up his exceptional play for a few more months, the Chiefs’ defense may be borderline impenetrable.
QB Patrick Mahomes
This was Mahomes’ best performance of his 2023 campaign so far and was a good indication that his early-season struggles will be overcome in time for the playoffs. His 424 yards and four passing touchdowns more than made up for his single blemish in the game, a questionable arm-punt early in the matchup that didn’t cost the Chiefs more than a possession.
LB Willie Gay Jr.
Gay was all over the place in this game and made his presence felt in all four quarters. The promising linebacker swatted passes, rushed the quarterback, and played sound coverage that helped lift Kansas City to a win. He finished the game with a modest five tackles and one sack but was among the Chiefs’ most impactful players, even if the stat sheet doesn’t imply a dominant performance.
TE Travis Kelce
Kelce seems to be wholly incapable of putting together lackluster performances, but with Taylor Swift in attendance to watch him play, the All-Pro tight end put on a masterclass against the Chargers. He led the Chiefs in receiving by a wide margin and kept Los Angeles on its toes throughout the game.
DB L'Jarius Sneed
Sneed came down with an interception in this matchup and looked great in coverage despite an early holding penalty. The masterful performance Sneed put together in this game was yet another example of how his versatile skillset can benefit Kansas City’s defense, and why should be regarded as one of the best defensive backs in the NFL.
WR Mecole Hardman
In his return to Kansas City after a brief stint with the New York Jets, Hardman proved that he can still be a key part of the Chiefs’ attack strategy, whether on offense or special teams. Hardman’s best play came late in the game when he returned a punt for serious yardage to set Kansas City up for an Isiah Pacheco touchdown that sealed the game.
DL Mike Danna
Danna is one of the Chiefs’ most unheralded stars, and always seems to be in a position to make big plays when the chips are down. He secured a sack late in the fourth quarter to keep Los Angeles behind the sticks and ended the game as Kansas City’s third-leading tackler.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Valdes-Scantling has been a mercurial asset for Kansas City, seeming to gain his yards in fits and starts that can be frustrating for some fans. He was supremely productive in this game against the Chargers, picking up 84 yards and a touchdown on just three catches.
LB Nick Bolton
Bolton led the Chiefs in tackling but was knocked out of the game due to a wrist injury. His stellar showing against the Chargers was a case study of why Kansas City can’t afford for him to miss time, even if they beefed up their depth at the linebacker position in the offseason.
